Steerable Smart Aperture Antenna for Skew-Angle EIRP Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Satellite communication antenna systems face challenges in maintaining optimal EIRP spectral density and link efficiency due to skew and scan angle variations, leading to interference issues and reduced performance, especially in mobile and geostationary earth orbit scenarios.
Innovation Solution
A smart aperture electronically steerable antenna system with a controller unit that dynamically optimizes the activation pattern of radiating elements based on scan and skew angles, allowing for reconfiguration between nominal and extended aperture modes to maximize EIRP spectral density while maintaining consumption and dissipation levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If asymmetric aperture antennas (elliptical or rectangular) are used to achieve the longest effective electrical aperture size, then beamwidth performance is improved at the longest axis, but sidelobe level and beamwidth performance deteriorate at the narrowest axis
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the aperture configuration changeable through selective activation of radiating elements. The system dynamically adjusts the aperture shape and size based on operating conditions (scan angle, skew angle, satellite position), transforming from a static asymmetric aperture to a dynamic reconfigurable aperture that optimizes performance for each scenario.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of the aperture configuration by selectively activating different radiating elements to create variable aperture shapes. The controller unit modifies the effective aperture dimensions, shape, and orientation based on scan angle and skew angle measurements, allowing optimization of radiating pattern performance across different operating conditions.
2Manufacturing precision
If the aperture is rotated to compensate for skew angle in fixed installations, then radiating pattern performance is improved, but device complexity and mechanical adjustment requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical rotation system with an electronic reconfiguration system. Instead of physically rotating the aperture using motors and mechanical adjustment mechanisms, the system electronically reconfigures the active aperture shape by selectively activating radiating elements through a controller unit, eliminating complex mechanical components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent achieves skew angle compensation by changing the electrical parameters of the aperture configuration rather than mechanical parameters. The controller unit adjusts the effective aperture shape, size, and orientation through electronic control of radiating element activation, replacing mechanical rotation with electrical reconfiguration.
3Ease of operation
If planar phased array antennas with circular aperture are used for electronic steering, then ease of operation is improved, but effective aperture area is reduced at low elevation angles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the aperture shape adaptive to the scanning conditions. The system dynamically reconfigures the effective aperture from a fixed circular shape to variable shapes that maintain optimal effective aperture area across different elevation angles and skew angles, improving performance while retaining electronic steering capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the aperture parameters (shape, size, orientation) based on operating conditions. The controller unit adjusts the effective aperture configuration by selectively activating radiating elements, transforming the fixed circular aperture into a dynamic aperture that maintains optimal performance across the scanning range.
4Object-generated harmful factors
If EIRP spectral density is reduced to prevent interference in worst-case scenarios, then harmful interference is decreased, but link efficiency and bitrate are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating different effective aperture configurations for different spatial directions and operating conditions. The system optimizes the radiating pattern locally for each scan angle and skew angle combination, maintaining low sidelobe levels and appropriate beamwidth in critical directions while maximizing EIRP spectral density in the main beam direction, thereby improving link efficiency without causing interference.
Data Source
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AI summary
Antenna system for a satellite communications device and method for operating the antenna system. The antenna system (1) comprises a smart aperture electronically steerable antenna (2) including selectively activable radiating elements (4) and a smart aperture antenna controller unit (3) configured to obtain (110) a scan angle (θ) and a skew angle (Φ) relative to a communications satellite (10); determine (120), based on the scan (θ) and skew (Φ) angles, an antenna activation pattern (12) including the radiating elements (4) that are selectively activated to form an active aperture (13); and control (130) the antenna according to the antenna activation pattern (12). The smart aperture antenna controller unit (3) selects a shape (14) and a size (15) for the active aperture (13) and obtains an orientation (16) thereof such that the EIRP spectral density, ESD, emitted by the antenna is improved at the skew angle (Φ).